Yet another post this evening:

[frualeydis]

The effigy stays are now finished. I'm considering weaving the lacing ribbon, since I can't make that long fingerloop braids. But that may be taking it too far.
Does anybody have documentation for lucet cords in the 16th century; I know the evidence for it from the middle ages is circumstantial at best, but maybe there is more from the 16th century?

Comments

[tattycat.livejournal.com]

I seem to recall that Tudor Tailor has a decent sized piece about points and lacings in one of the research chapters, but I can't recall off the top of my head if/what was said about lucet cord. I'd check for you, but the book is all the way over *there*, in the living room...

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

Or just three steps away in the hall ;)
I didn't even think of that. The swedish points that are shown in it are braided, but there may be more.

/Eva

[gea-gilwen.livejournal.com]

Personally, I like double cords (I mean drilled cords, except that you drill two strands of the same length and treat them as one when halved and allowed to unwind) - they are smoother than regular drilled cords and look somewhat like fingerloop braids. Don't know if drilled cords are period, however.
I'm always in doubt about the stability of lucet cords - I tried the technique once - you just need to have the yarn severely damaged at one point and poof, it's going to get all undone. So I somehow doubt it would really have been used for lacings - but I'd really like to know the facts.

Greetings, Gea

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

Finger lucet cords were used for lacing a lot in swedish rural costume in the 18th and 19th century. I have it in my folk costume and it all depends on how strong the yarn is. I used a rather weak wool yarn for my first, which didn't last, but the new one in a thicker wool yarn has lasted for years. I was thinking about my had-dyed silk, which should be really strong.

/Eva

[clothsprogs.livejournal.com]

As far as I'm aware, early seventeenth century is the earliest proveable lucet cord (on a urvivng purse) andything before that is circumstantial...

On the other hand, once it's made, it's very hard to tell lucetted cord from other types of cord just by looking at them, so why not make and use it and just don't say it was lucet?

I happily use lucet cord for pre 17th century costume but won't lucet in fornt of the public due to the encessary explanations about the circumstantial nature of the method in that period.

Teddy